Current AffairsGovernment makes swine flu vaccine available to broader public

Originally, one million doses of the swine flu vaccine was to have been
available only to those at the greatest health risk, including health
workers and those suffering from serious and long-term illnesses. Now, that
has changed: on Monday the government agreed that the vaccine will be
available to almost all. The only question is, whether the new broad access
to the swine flu shot will boost what until now has been surprisingly low
interest.

Almost from the get-go patients’ interest in the swine flu vaccine has
been lower - far lower - than anyone expected and the question now that the
government has made the vaccine available to all is whether that will
change. On Monday, according to sources, even government ministers offered
the shot by the health minister refused it: not much of an example for the
rest of the population. Still, flu experts have largely recommended that
those who can now should strongly consider getting the vaccine, given that
the swine flu has become dominant among flu strains. Despite the drop in
incidence, experts say it will continue to spread and they also warn that
swine flu will again dominate the next flu season.

There are a few changes: under the new government decision, vaccines will
no longer be offered at general practitioners’ but directly at
vaccination centres. Dr Roman Prymula, the head of the Czech Immunology
Society, addressed the situation:

“Most people are of course used to going to their GP, someone closely
familiar with their health situation. In this case, though, people will go
to vaccination centres, no different from when you get a vaccine to travel
somewhere abroad. Just like in those situations, here you’ll have to tell
the doctor about your current state of health; if there is no possibility
of risk then you’ll receive the vaccine.”

Dr Roman Prymula, photo: David Němec, Czech Radio
Getting the shot will be completely free – without even the regular 30
crown health charge which will be covered - the government made clear on
Monday - from the state budget. Will interest go up? Quite possibly, not
least among those with children; as it stands children from the age of
three are eligible for the vaccine, although they, unlike adults, will need
written confirmation from their doctors. Women who are pregnant (among
those at high risk) will be eligible from the fourth month into their
pregnancy but will also need approval from their gynaecologist. One more
thing: of the original 1 million vaccines, the government has opted in the
end not to order the final 30 percent, meaning that a total of some 700,000
doses will have been made available to Czechs.